Geophysical subsurface imaging for ecological applications
Date
2013
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
New Phytologist Trust
Abstract
Ecologists, ecohydrologists, and biogeochemists need detailed insights into belowground
properties and processes, including changes in water, salts, and other elements that can influence
ecosystem productivity and functioning. Relying on traditional sampling and observation
techniques for such insights can be costly, time consuming, and infeasible, especially if the spatial
scales involved are large. Geophysical imaging provides an alternative or complement to
traditional methods to gather subsurface variables across time and space. In this paper,wereview
aspects of geophysical imaging, particularly electrical and electromagnetic imaging, that may
benefit ecologists seeking clearer understanding of the shallow subsurface. Using electrical
resistivity imaging, for example, we have been able to successfully show the effect of land-use
conversions to agriculture on salt mobilization and leaching across kilometer-long transects and
to depths of tens of meters. Recent advances in ground-penetrating radar and other geophysical
imaging methods currently provide opportunities for subsurface imaging with sufficient detail to
locate small (≥5 cmdiameter) animal burrows and plant roots, observe soil-water and vegetation
spatial correlations in small watersheds, estuaries, and marshes, and quantify changes in
groundwater storage at local to regional scales using geophysical data from ground- and spacebased
platforms. Ecologists should benefit from adopting these minimally invasive, scalable
imaging technologies to explore the subsurface and advance our collective research.
Description
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Journal Article (peer-reviewed)
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Keywords
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS, ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY IMAGING, HYDROLOGY, GROUNDWATER, GROUND PENETRATING RADAR, ECOSYSTEMS, SOIL WATER BALANCE, SOIL CHEMISTRY, LAND MANAGEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
Citation
Jayawickreme, D.H., Jobbágy, E.G., & Jackson, R.B. (2013). Geophysical subsurface imaging for ecological applications. New Phytologist. doi: 10.1111/nph.12619